Sjuksköterskors upplevelser av att vårda i livets slutskede
en litteraturstudie
Aim: To describe nurses' experiences providing end of life care to patients. Method Descriptive literature study, 15 articles were included. The search was made in PubMed, CINAHL and by manual search. The articles were reviewed, analyzed and summarized. Results: For newly graduated nurses? experience in end of life care proved to be something new, developing, difficult to manage and frightening, but expected in the profession. Experienced nurses describe that the experience changes over time, worries decreased with experience and they learned to deal with the emotions involved. They recognize the dying process and see death as a part of life, as release from suffering. Spirituality, religion and culture affected work both positively and negatively. Both newly graduated and experienced nurses felt a lack of time, and education, obstacles in the health care environment, and difficulties in supporting and interacting with patients and families. They have different ways of handling problems, for example support, advice, humor and distancing. Conclusion: End of life care is a difficult part of the nurse's work especially for newly graduated nurses. For the patients? relatives, this is a unique event that they will remember for life, influenced by the way the nurse cared for the dying. To make the last phase in the patient's life a good experience for everyone involved the nurses need continuous support, advice and education.